The Castres club was still awaiting the results of its latest PCR tests carried out within its workforce, but the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), the body responsible for European competitions, took the lead: the meeting between Castres Olympique and Leicester will not be played.
Due to the cancellation of this quarter-final of the European Challenge, which was to take place on Sunday at Welford Road, the Castres club is forfeited and therefore beaten on the green carpet.
The EPCR has decided to cancel the Challenge Cup quarterfinal between @LeicesterTigers and @CastresRugby following
subsequent independent medical recommendations.
The OC must forfeit and Leicester qualify for the semi-finals.https: //t.co/29rwn32NV1
- Challenge Cup France (@ChallengeCup_FR) September 19, 2020
Several cases of Covid-19 had been detected within the Tarn workforce, preventing it from taking off for England, where the rules have been tightened for new arrivals in this context of the health crisis.
"This decision comes following a meeting of a medical committee made up of medical officials from the Federations, the leagues, and the two clubs, and following subsequent independent medical recommendations," explains the EPCR in a press release on Saturday. .
The committee met by videoconference on Friday following confirmation from Castres that three members of the group of players, as well as a member of the sports team, had tested positive for COVID-19 before departure planned from the team to England.
On medical advice, it was decided that the quarter-final could not take place safely under these conditions.
"
Castres Olympique is therefore forced to give up, and Leicester qualified for the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup without even playing.
The semi-finals, they are scheduled for next weekend, short deadlines that do not allow to replay the match.
